VICTORA: The world failed Steven Cozzie, and he returned the favor

Published: Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 01:46 PM.

In this business, it’s tempting to try to predict the news. Like many of our readers, I closely followed what hasbeen happening in a DeFuniak Springs courtroom for most of the last two weeks.

A young Seagrove Beach man named Steven Cozzie was found guilty of sexually assaulting and brutally beating to death a young Georgia girl who was visiting the area with her family.

The body of Courtney Wilkes, who was almost 16, was found hours after leaving her family on the beach outside their condo to go for a walk with Cozzie.

For almost two years, the case edged closer to trial. Along the way, Cozzie fired at least one public defender and took offense to his name being mispronounced.

Meanwhile, Courtney’s family returned to Georgia, heartbroken. They celebrated her 16th birthday, and then her 17th, without her. Her classmates graduated from high school.

Cozzie’s attorney did little to defend him from the charges. A second attorney focused on the penalty phase, fighting to humanize the young man accused of committing an inhuman act.

For two days last week, we learned that he’d been bullied, beaten and sexually abused most of his life. A parade of witnesses touted the deviant behaviors he’d either witnessed or been subjected to. A psychologist told us his IQ was 83.

In a courtroom photo, Cozzie was smiling at someone, looking like a little boy who didn’t quite mind all of the attention. Goofy was the word that came to mind when I studied his face. Goofy and kind of sad.

I’ll be honest. I thought the jury would vote against execution. I was wrong.

They unanimously recommended death rather than life in prison without parole. Now it’s in the hands of the judge who heard the case.

I wasn’t there. I didn’t hear all of the testimony. I did not carry the weight on my shoulders borne by those 12 jurors.

Courtney’s mother told the media she would go back to the graveyard in Georgia where Courtney was laid to rest and share the verdict with her daughter.

That beautiful girl who came here to have fun is missed and always will be.

Will the world miss Steven Cozzie? I don’t know and I guess it doesn’t matter.

In this business, it’s tempting to try to predict the news. Like many of our readers, I closely followed what hasbeen happening in a DeFuniak Springs courtroom for most of the last two weeks.

A young Seagrove Beach man named Steven Cozzie was found guilty of sexually assaulting and brutally beating to death a young Georgia girl who was visiting the area with her family.

The body of Courtney Wilkes, who was almost 16, was found hours after leaving her family on the beach outside their condo to go for a walk with Cozzie.

For almost two years, the case edged closer to trial. Along the way, Cozzie fired at least one public defender and took offense to his name being mispronounced.

Meanwhile, Courtney’s family returned to Georgia, heartbroken. They celebrated her 16th birthday, and then her 17th, without her. Her classmates graduated from high school.

Cozzie’s attorney did little to defend him from the charges. A second attorney focused on the penalty phase, fighting to humanize the young man accused of committing an inhuman act.

For two days last week, we learned that he’d been bullied, beaten and sexually abused most of his life. A parade of witnesses touted the deviant behaviors he’d either witnessed or been subjected to. A psychologist told us his IQ was 83.

In a courtroom photo, Cozzie was smiling at someone, looking like a little boy who didn’t quite mind all of the attention. Goofy was the word that came to mind when I studied his face. Goofy and kind of sad.

I’ll be honest. I thought the jury would vote against execution. I was wrong.

They unanimously recommended death rather than life in prison without parole. Now it’s in the hands of the judge who heard the case.

I wasn’t there. I didn’t hear all of the testimony. I did not carry the weight on my shoulders borne by those 12 jurors.

Courtney’s mother told the media she would go back to the graveyard in Georgia where Courtney was laid to rest and share the verdict with her daughter.

That beautiful girl who came here to have fun is missed and always will be.

Will the world miss Steven Cozzie? I don’t know and I guess it doesn’t matter.